HB 7049 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb7049-00
Page 1 of 20
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to transportation; amending s. 2
334.065, F.S.; revising membership of the Center for 3
Urban Transportation Research advisory board; amending 4
s. 334.066, F.S.; revising membership of the I -STREET 5
advisory board; amending s. 339.175, F.S.; revi sing 6
legislative intent; revising requirements for the 7
designation of additional M.P.O.'s; revising projects 8
and strategies to be considered in developing an 9
M.P.O.'s long-range transportation plan and 10
transportation improvement program; requiring the 11
Department of Transportation to convene M.P.O.'s of 12
similar size to exchange best practices; authorizing 13
such M.P.O.'s to develop committees or working groups; 14
requiring training for new M.P.O. governing board 15
members to be provided by the department or anothe r 16
specified entity; removing provisions relating to 17
M.P.O. coordination mechanisms; requiring certain 18
M.P.O.'s to submit a feasibility report to the 19
Governor and Legislature regarding consolidation; 20
specifying goals thereof; deleting obsolete 21
provisions; conforming provisions to changes made by 22
the act; including public -private partnerships in 23
authorized financing techniques; revising proposed 24
transportation enhancement activities that must be 25
HB 7049 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb7049-00
Page 2 of 20
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
indicated by the long -range transportation plan; 26
requiring the department to review certain aspects of 27
each M.P.O.'s long-range transportation plan and to 28
return such plan to the M.P.O. for revision if deemed 29
unsatisfactory; requiring the department to create a 30
quality performance scoring mechanism to evaluate each 31
M.P.O.'s service to its communities and to establish a 32
minimum acceptable quality performance score; 33
requiring each M.P.O. to report its quality 34
performance score annually to the district secretary 35
and to publish the score on its website; requiring the 36
department to validate each M.P.O.'s score 37
calculation; requiring an M.P.O. that does not achieve 38
the minimum acceptable quality performance score 39
within a certain timeframe to be placed under the 40
control of the Secretary of Transportation; requiring 41
the secretary to appoint the district secretary or 42
another person to assume the role of executive 43
director of such M.P.O.; providing responsibilities; 44
providing an appropriation from the State 45
Transportation Trust Fund for the M.P.O. with the 46
highest quality performa nce score; providing 47
requirements for the expenditure of such funds; 48
requiring such M.P.O. to represent the state in any 49
federal conference or membership organization; 50
HB 7049 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb7049-00
Page 3 of 20
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
removing provisions relating to the Metropolitan 51
Planning Organization Advisory Council; amending s. 52
331.3051, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made 53
by the act; amending s. 331.310, F.S.; conforming a 54
cross-reference; requiring a report to the Governor 55
and Legislature; requiring the Department of Highway 56
Safety and Motor Vehicles to beg in implementation of a 57
redesigned registration license plate by a specified 58
date; providing redesign requirements; providing an 59
effective date. 60
61
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 62
63
Section 1. Subsection (3) of section 334.065 , Florida 64
Statutes, is amended to read: 65
334.065 Center for Urban Transportation Research. — 66
(3) An advisory board shall be created to periodically and 67
objectively review and advise the center concerning its research 68
program. Except for projects mandated by law, state-funded base 69
projects shall not be undertaken without approval of the 70
advisory board. The membership of the board shall consist of 71
nine experts in transportation -related areas, as follows: 72
(a) A member appointed by the President of the Sena te. 73
(b) A member appointed by the Speaker of the House of 74
Representatives. 75
HB 7049 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb7049-00
Page 4 of 20
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
(c) The Secretary of Transportation or his or her 76
designee. 77
(d) The Secretary of Commerce or his or her designee. 78
including the secretaries of the Department of Transportation , 79
the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department 80
of Economic Opportunity, or their designees, and 81
(e) A member of the Florida Transportation Commission. 82
(f) The nomination of the remaining four members of the 83
board shall be made to the President of the University of South 84
Florida by the College of Engineering at the University of South 85
Florida., and The appointment of these members must be reviewed 86
and approved by the Florida Transportation Commission and 87
confirmed by the Board of Govern ors. 88
Section 2. Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section 89
334.066, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 90
334.066 Implementing Solutions from Transportation 91
Research and Evaluating Emerging Technologies Living Lab. — 92
(3) An advisory board shall be c reated to periodically 93
review and advise I-STREET concerning its research program. The 94
board shall consist of nine members with expertise in 95
transportation-related areas, as follows: 96
(d) The Secretary of Commerce Economic Opportunity or his 97
or her designee. 98
Section 3. Subsection (10) of section 339.175, Florida 99
Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (11), subsection (1), 100
HB 7049 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb7049-00
Page 5 of 20
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
paragraph (a) of subsection (2), paragraphs (b), (j), and (i) of 101
subsection (6), subsection (7), and present sub section (11) are 102
amended, and a new subsection (10) is added to that section, to 103
read: 104
339.175 Metropolitan planning organization. — 105
(1) PURPOSE.—It is the intent of the Legislature to 106
encourage and promote the safe and efficient management, 107
operation, and development of multimodal surface transportation 108
systems that will serve the mobility needs of people and freight 109
and foster economic growth and development within and through 110
urbanized areas of this state while balancing conservation of 111
natural resources minimizing transportation -related fuel 112
consumption, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions through 113
metropolitan transportation planning processes identified in 114
this section. To accomplish these objectives, metropolitan 115
planning organizations, refe rred to in this section as M.P.O.'s, 116
shall develop, in cooperation with the state and public transit 117
operators, transportation plans and programs for metropolitan 118
areas. The plans and programs for each metropolitan area must 119
provide for the development and integrated management and 120
operation of transportation systems and facilities, including 121
pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities that 122
will function as an intermodal transportation system for the 123
metropolitan area, based upon the prevailin g principles provided 124
in s. 334.046(1). The process for developing such plans and 125
HB 7049 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb7049-00
Page 6 of 20
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
programs shall provide for consideration of all modes of 126
transportation and shall be continuing, cooperative, and 127
comprehensive, to the degree appropriate, based on the 128
complexity of the transportation problems to be addressed. To 129
ensure that the process is integrated with the statewide 130
planning process, M.P.O.'s shall develop plans and programs that 131
identify transportation facilities that should function as an 132
integrated metropolitan transportation system, giving emphasis 133
to facilities that serve important national, state, and regional 134
transportation functions. For the purposes of this section, 135
those facilities include the facilities on the Strategic 136
Intermodal System designat ed under s. 339.63 and facilities for 137
which projects have been identified pursuant to s. 339.2819(4). 138
(2) DESIGNATION.— 139
(a)1. An M.P.O. shall be designated for each urbanized 140
area of the state; however, this does not require that an 141
individual M.P.O. be designated for each such area. Such 142
designation shall be accomplished by agreement between the 143
Governor and units of general -purpose local government 144
representing at least 75 percent of the population of the 145
urbanized area; however, the unit of general -purpose local 146
government that represents the central city or cities within the 147
M.P.O. jurisdiction, as defined by the United States Bureau of 148
the Census, must be a party to such agreement. 149
2. To the extent possible, only one M.P.O. shall be 150
HB 7049 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb7049-00
Page 7 of 20
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
designated for each urbanized area or group of contiguous 151
urbanized areas. More than one M.P.O. may be designated within 152
an existing urbanized area only if the Governor and the existing 153
M.P.O. determine that the size and complexity of the existing 154
urbanized area makes t he designation of more than one M.P.O. for 155
the area appropriate . After July 1, 2024, no additional M.P.O.'s 156
shall be designated in th e state except in urbanized areas, as 157
defined by the United States Bureau of the Census, where the 158
urbanized area boundary is not contiguous to an urbanized area 159
designated before the 2020 census , in which case each M.P.O. 160
designated for the area must: 161
a. Consult with every other M.P.O. designated for the 162
urbanized area and the state to coordinate plans and 163
transportation improvement programs. 164
b. Ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, the 165
consistency of data used in the planning process, including data 166
used in forecasting travel demand within the urbanized area . 167
168
Each M.P.O. required under this section must be fully operative 169
no later than 6 months following its designation. 170
(6) POWERS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES. —The powers, 171
privileges, and authority of an M.P.O. are those specified in 172
this section or incorporated in an interlocal agreement 173
authorized under s. 16 3.01. Each M.P.O. shall perform all acts 174
required by federal or state laws or rules, now and subsequently 175
HB 7049 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb7049-00
Page 8 of 20
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
applicable, which are necessary to qualify for federal aid. It 176
is the intent of this section that each M.P.O. be involved in 177
the planning and programm ing of transportation facilities, 178
including, but not limited to, airports, intercity and high -179
speed rail lines, seaports, and intermodal facilities, to the 180
extent permitted by state or federal law. An M.P.O. may not 181
perform project production or delivery f or capital improvement 182
projects on the State Highway System. 183
(b) In developing the long -range transportation plan and 184
the transportation improvement program required under paragraph 185
(a), each M.P.O. shall provide for consideration of projects and 186
strategies that will: 187
1. Support the economic vitality of the contiguous 188
urbanized metropolitan area, especially by enabling global 189
competitiveness, productivity, and efficiency. 190
2. Increase the safety and security of the transportation 191
system for motorized a nd nonmotorized users. 192
3. Increase the accessibility and mobility options 193
available to people and for freight. 194
4. Protect and enhance the environment, conserve natural 195
resources promote energy conservation , and improve quality of 196
life. 197
5. Enhance the integration and connectivity of the 198
transportation system, across and between modes and contiguous 199
urbanized metropolitan areas, for people and freight. 200
HB 7049 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb7049-00
Page 9 of 20
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
6. Promote efficient system management and operation. 201
7. Emphasize the preservation of the existin g 202
transportation system. 203
8. Improve the resilience of transportation 204
infrastructure. 205
9. Reduce traffic and congestion. 206
(j)1. To more fully accomplish the purposes for which 207
M.P.O.'s have been mandated, the department shall, at least 208
annually, convene M.P.O.'s of similar size, based on the size of 209
population served, for the purpose of exchanging best practices. 210
M.P.O.'s may shall develop committees or working groups as 211
needed to accomplish such purpose. At the discretion of the 212
department, training for new M.P.O. governing board members 213
shall be provided by the department, by an entity pursuant to a 214
contract with the department, by the Florida Center for Urban 215
Transportation Research, or by the Implementing Solutions from 216
Transportation Research and Eva luating Emerging Technologies (I -217
STREET) Living Lab coordination mechanisms with one another to 218
expand and improve transportation within the state. The 219
appropriate method of coordination between M.P.O.'s shall vary 220
depending upon the project involved and g iven local and regional 221
needs. Consequently, it is appropriate to set forth a flexible 222
methodology that can be used by M.P.O.'s to coordinate with 223
other M.P.O.'s and appropriate political subdivisions as 224
circumstances demand . 225
HB 7049 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb7049-00
Page 10 of 20
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2. Any M.P.O. may join with any other M.P.O. or any 226
individual political subdivision to coordinate activities or to 227
achieve any federal or state transportation planning or 228
development goals or purposes consistent with federal or state 229
law. When an M.P.O. determines that it is appropr iate to join 230
with another M.P.O. or any political subdivision to coordinate 231
activities, the M.P.O. or political subdivision shall enter into 232
an interlocal agreement pursuant to s. 163.01, which, at a 233
minimum, creates a separate legal or administrative enti ty to 234
coordinate the transportation planning or development activities 235
required to achieve the goal or purpose; provides the purpose 236
for which the entity is created; provides the duration of the 237
agreement and the entity and specifies how the agreement may be 238
terminated, modified, or rescinded; describes the precise 239
organization of the entity, including who has voting rights on 240
the governing board, whether alternative voting members are 241
provided for, how voting members are appointed, and what the 242
relative voting strength is for each constituent M.P.O. or 243
political subdivision; provides the manner in which the parties 244
to the agreement will provide for the financial support of the 245
entity and payment of costs and expenses of the entity; provides 246
the manner in which funds may be paid to and disbursed from the 247
entity; and provides how members of the entity will resolve 248
disagreements regarding interpretation of the interlocal 249
agreement or disputes relating to the operation of the entity. 250
HB 7049 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb7049-00
Page 11 of 20
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
Such interlocal agreement sh all become effective upon its 251
recordation in the official public records of each county in 252
which a member of the entity created by the interlocal agreement 253
has a voting member. Multiple M.P.O.'s may merge, combine, or 254
otherwise join together as a single M. P.O. 255
(i) By February 28, 2025 December 31, 2023, the M.P.O.'s 256
serving Lee and Collier Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas 257
Counties must submit a feasibility report to the Governor, the 258
President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of 259
Representatives exploring the benefits, costs, and process of 260
consolidation into a single M.P.O. serving the contiguous 261
urbanized area, the goal of which would be to: 262
1. Coordinate transportation projects deemed to be 263
regionally significant. 264
2. Review the impact of regionally significant land use 265
decisions on the region. 266
3. Review all proposed regionally significant 267
transportation projects in the respective transportation 268
improvement programs. 269
(7) LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN. —Each M.P.O. must 270
develop a long-range transportation plan that addresses at least 271
a 20-year planning horizon. The plan must include both long -272
range and short-range strategies and must comply with all other 273
state and federal requirements. The prevailing principles to be 274
considered in the lo ng-range transportation plan are: preserving 275
HB 7049 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb7049-00
Page 12 of 20
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
the existing transportation infrastructure; enhancing Florida's 276
economic competitiveness; and improving travel choices to ensure 277
mobility. The long-range transportation plan must be consistent, 278
to the maximum extent feasible, with future land use elements 279
and the goals, objectives, and policies of the approved local 280
government comprehensive plans of the units of local government 281
located within the jurisdiction of the M.P.O. Each M.P.O. is 282
encouraged to consider s trategies that integrate transportation 283
and land use planning to provide for sustainable development and 284
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The approved long -range 285
transportation plan must be considered by local governments in 286
the development of the transpor tation elements in local 287
government comprehensive plans and any amendments thereto. The 288
long-range transportation plan must, at a minimum: 289
(a) Identify transportation facilities, including, but not 290
limited to, major roadways, airports, seaports, spaceports, 291
commuter rail systems, transit systems, and intermodal or 292
multimodal terminals that will function as an integrated 293
metropolitan transpor tation system. The long -range 294
transportation plan must give emphasis to those transportation 295
facilities that serve national, statewide, or regional 296
functions, and must consider the goals and objectives identified 297
in the Florida Transportation Plan as provi ded in s. 339.155. If 298
a project is located within the boundaries of more than one 299
M.P.O., the M.P.O.'s must coordinate plans regarding the project 300
HB 7049 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb7049-00
Page 13 of 20
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
in the long-range transportation plan. Multiple M.P.O.'s within 301
a contiguous urbanized area must coordinate t he development of 302
long-range transportation plans to be reviewed by the 303
Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council. 304
(b) Include a financial plan that demonstrates how the 305
plan can be implemented, indicating resources from public and 306
private sources which are reasonably expected to be available to 307
carry out the plan, and recommends any additional financing 308
strategies for needed projects and programs. The financial plan 309
may include, for illustrative purposes, additional projects that 310
would be included in the adopted long -range transportation plan 311
if reasonable additional resources beyond those identified in 312
the financial plan were available. For the purpose of developing 313
the long-range transportation plan, the M.P.O. and the 314
department shall coopera tively develop estimates of funds that 315
will be available to support the plan implementation. Innovative 316
financing techniques may be used to fund needed projects and 317
programs. Such techniques may include the assessment of tolls, 318
public-private partnerships, the use of value capture financing, 319
or the use of value pricing. Multiple M.P.O.'s within a 320
contiguous urbanized area must ensure, to the maximum extent 321
possible, the consistency of data used in the planning process. 322
(c) Assess capital investment and ot her measures necessary 323
to: 324
1. Ensure the preservation of the existing metropolitan 325
HB 7049 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb7049-00
Page 14 of 20
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
transportation system including requirements for the operation, 326
resurfacing, restoration, and rehabilitation of major roadways 327
and requirements for the operation, maintena nce, modernization, 328
and rehabilitation of public transportation facilities; and 329
2. Make the most efficient use of existing transportation 330
facilities to relieve vehicular congestion, improve safety, and 331
maximize the mobility of people and goods. Such effo rts must 332
include, but are not limited to, consideration of infrastructure 333
and technological improvements necessary to accommodate advances 334
in vehicle technology, such as automated driving systems and 335
other developments. 336
(d) Indicate, as appropriate, prop osed transportation 337
enhancement activities, including, but not limited to, 338
pedestrian and bicycle facilities, trails or facilities that are 339
regionally significant or critical linkages for the Florida 340
Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail Network, scenic easements, 341
landscaping, integration of advanced air mobility, and 342
integration of autonomous and electric vehicles, electric 343
bicycles, and motorized scooters used for freight, commuter, or 344
micromobility purposes historic preservation, mitigation of 345
water pollution due to highway runoff, and control of outdoor 346
advertising. 347
(e) In addition to the requirements of paragraphs (a) -(d), 348
in metropolitan areas that are classified as nonattainment areas 349
for ozone or carbon monoxide, the M.P.O. must coordinate the 350
HB 7049 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb7049-00
Page 15 of 20
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
development of the long-range transportation plan with the State 351
Implementation Plan developed pursuant to the requirements of 352
the federal Clean Air Act. 353
354
In the development of its long -range transportation plan, each 355
M.P.O. must provide the public, affected public ag encies, 356
representatives of transportation agency employees, freight 357
shippers, providers of freight transportation services, private 358
providers of transportation, representatives of users of public 359
transit, and other interested parties with a reasonable 360
opportunity to comment on the long -range transportation plan. 361
The long-range transportation plan must be approved by the 362
M.P.O. and by the department as provided in subsection (10). 363
(10) ACCOUNTABILITY. — 364
(a) The department shall review each M.P.O.'s long -range 365
transportation plan for productive flow and connectivity for 366
people and freight within the M.P.O.'s metropolitan area. If the 367
department finds an M.P.O.'s long -range transportation plan to 368
be unsatisfactory or incongruent with the metropolitan area, t he 369
department shall return the plan to the M.P.O. for revision. 370
(b) The department shall create quality performance 371
metrics and a scoring mechanism by which to evaluate each 372
M.P.O.'s service to its communities, taking into consideration 373
traffic congestion, the utilization rate of multimodal 374
transportation facilities, resident satisfaction, efficiency of 375
HB 7049 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb7049-00
Page 16 of 20
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
the transportation system for people and freight, and other 376
factors the department deems necessary. The department shall 377
establish a minimum acceptable qu ality performance score. 378
(c) Beginning in 2025 and each year thereafter, each 379
M.P.O. shall report its score for each quality performance 380
metric by December 1 to the district secretary and shall publish 381
the score and supporting data on its website. The de partment 382
must validate each M.P.O.'s score calculation and make 383
adjustments thereto if necessary. 384
(d) Beginning in December of 2026 and every 3 years 385
thereafter, an M.P.O. that does not achieve the minimum 386
acceptable quality performance score shall be pl aced under the 387
control of the Secretary of Transportation. The Secretary of 388
Transportation shall appoint the district secretary or another 389
person to assume the role of executive director of the M.P.O. 390
and chair of its governing board for a period not to ex ceed 1 391
year, during which time the district secretary or other person 392
shall make recommendations to the governing board regarding: 393
1. Any leadership, process, and management changes needed 394
to improve the M.P.O.'s quality performance score. 395
2. Whether the metropolitan area of the M.P.O. would be 396
better served by consolidation of the M.P.O. with an M.P.O. in a 397
contiguous urbanized metropolitan area. 398
(e) Subject to appropriation by the Legislature, beginning 399
in 2026 and every 3 years thereafter, the sing le M.P.O. with the 400
HB 7049 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb7049-00
Page 17 of 20
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
highest quality performance score will receive $5 million from 401
the State Transportation Trust Fund. Such funds shall be 402
expended at the M.P.O.'s discretion for a project approved in 403
its work program list. Such M.P.O. shall also represent the 404
state in any federal M.P.O. conference or membership 405
organization. 406
(11) METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION ADVISORY COUNCIL. — 407
(a) A Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council 408
is created to augment, and not supplant, the role of the 409
individual M.P.O.'s in the cooperative transportation planning 410
process described in this section. 411
(b) The council shall consist of one representative from 412
each M.P.O. and shall elect a chairperson annually from its 413
number. Each M.P.O. shall also elect an alter nate representative 414
from each M.P.O. to vote in the absence of the representative. 415
Members of the council do not receive any compensation for their 416
services, but may be reimbursed from funds made available to 417
council members for travel and per diem expense s incurred in the 418
performance of their council duties as provided in s. 112.061. 419
(c) The powers and duties of the Metropolitan Planning 420
Organization Advisory Council are to: 421
1. Establish bylaws by action of its governing board 422
providing procedural rule s to guide its proceedings and 423
consideration of matters before the council, or, alternatively, 424
adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement 425
HB 7049 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb7049-00
Page 18 of 20
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
provisions of law conferring powers or duties upon it. 426
2. Assist M.P.O.'s in carrying out the ur banized area 427
transportation planning process by serving as the principal 428
forum for collective policy discussion pursuant to law. 429
3. Serve as a clearinghouse for review and comment by 430
M.P.O.'s on the Florida Transportation Plan and on other issues 431
required to comply with federal or state law in carrying out the 432
urbanized area transportation and systematic planning processes 433
instituted pursuant to s. 339.155. The council must also report 434
annually to the Florida Transportation Commission on the 435
alignment of M.P.O. long-range transportation plans with the 436
Florida Transportation Plan. 437
4. Employ an executive director and such other staff as 438
necessary to perform adequately the functions of the council, 439
within budgetary limitations. The executive director and st aff 440
are exempt from part II of chapter 110 and serve at the 441
direction and control of the council. The council is assigned to 442
the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Transportation 443
for fiscal and accountability purposes, but it shall otherwise 444
function independently of the control and direction of the 445
department. 446
5. Deliver training on federal and state program 447
requirements and procedures to M.P.O. board members and M.P.O. 448
staff. 449
6. Adopt an agency strategic plan that prioritizes steps 450
HB 7049 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb7049-00
Page 19 of 20
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
the agency will take to carry out its mission within the context 451
of the state comprehensive plan and any other statutory mandates 452
and directives. 453
(d) The Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory 454
Council may enter into contracts in accordance with chapter 287 455
to support the activities described in paragraph (c). Lobbying 456
and the acceptance of funds, grants, assistance, gifts, or 457
bequests from private, local, state, or federal sources are 458
prohibited. 459
Section 4. Subsection (14) of section 331.3051, Florida 460
Statutes, is amended to read: 461
331.3051 Duties of Space Florida. —Space Florida shall: 462
(14) Partner with the Metropolitan Planning Organization 463
Advisory Council to coordinate and specify how aerospace 464
planning and programming will be part of the state's cooperative 465
transportation planning process. 466
Section 5. Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section 467
331.310, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 468
331.310 Powers and duties of the board of directors. — 469
(2) The board of directors shall: 470
(e) Prepare an annual report of operations as a supplement 471
to the annual report required under s. 331.3051(15) s. 472
331.3051(16). The report must include, but not be limited to, a 473
balance sheet, an income statement, a statement of changes in 474
financial position, a reconc iliation of changes in equity 475
HB 7049 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb7049-00
Page 20 of 20
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
accounts, a summary of significant accounting principles, the 476
auditor's report, a summary of the status of existing and 477
proposed bonding projects, comments from management about the 478
year's business, and prospects for the next year. 479
Section 6. By October 31, 2024, the Department of 480
Transportation shall submit to the Governor, the President of 481
the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a 482
report that provides a comprehensive review of the boundaries of 483
each of the department's districts and whether any district's 484
boundaries should be redrawn as a result of population growth 485
and increased urban density. 486
Section 7. By October 1, 2024, the Department of Highway 487
Safety and Motor Vehicles must begin implementati on of a 488
redesigned registration license plate required by s. 489
320.06(3)(a), Florida Statutes. The redesign does not apply to 490
specialty license plates. In redesigning the plate, the 491
department must replace the current graphic and remove the term 492
"MYFLORIDA.COM" and replace it solely with the word "FLORIDA." 493
The department must coordinate with the Department of 494
Transportation to ensure the legibility of the redesigned 495
registration license plate and must also consider adding an 496
additional character to the regis tration license plate due to 497
the state's continued economic growth. 498
Section 8. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 499